Pillar 8
Government Schemes
India's government runs more than a dozen savings, insurance, and pension schemes — Public Provident Fund, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, NPS, EPF, the Pradhan Mantri Bima schemes, and others. Each has different eligibility, returns, lock-in periods, and tax treatment. This section explains what each scheme actually is, who can use it, and how the mechanics work. These are research-led explainers, not recommendations.
10 articles
What is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana? The 8.2% interest rate, eligibility (girl child below 10), 15-year contribution + 21-year maturity, partial withdrawal at 18, and EEE tax treatment explained with worked example.
9 min read
What is Sovereign Gold Bond? The 2.5% annual coupon, 8-year tenure, gold-price-linked redemption, tax-free capital gains at maturity, and the 2024 discontinuation of new tranches explained.
9 min read
What is SCSS? The 8.2% interest rate, ₹30 lakh maximum deposit, 5-year tenure with 3-year extension, quarterly interest payout, eligibility for 60+ Indians (and earlier for retirees) explained.
9 min read
What is PPF (Public Provident Fund)? The current 7.1% interest rate, 15-year lock-in, ₹1.5 lakh annual cap, EEE tax treatment, and a worked example showing how ₹1.5L/year compounds to ₹40.7 lakh at maturity.
9 min read
What is POMIS? The 7.4% interest rate, ₹9 lakh single / ₹15 lakh joint maximum, 5-year tenure, monthly interest payout, eligibility, and how it compares to SCSS and bank monthly income plans.
9 min read
PMJJBY vs PMSBY compared: ₹436/year for ₹2 lakh life insurance vs ₹20/year for ₹2 lakh accident insurance. Eligibility, premium structure, claims, and how the two Pradhan Mantri Jan Suraksha schemes work together.
9 min read
NSC vs KVP compared: 7.7% with Section 80C tax benefit vs 7.5% with money-doubling guarantee. Tenure, rates, tax treatment, eligibility, and how the two post office certificates differ.
9 min read
What is NPS (National Pension System)? Tier I vs Tier II, equity/debt/government asset choices, Section 80CCD(1B) extra ₹50K deduction, and the 60% lump sum + 40% annuity rule at retirement.
9 min read
What is EPF (Employee Provident Fund)? The 8.25% interest rate, mandatory 12%+12% employee/employer contribution, EPS split, withdrawal rules, and tax treatment explained for salaried Indian workers.
9 min read
What is Atal Pension Yojana? The guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 at age 60, eligibility for unorganized-sector workers aged 18-40, monthly contribution table, and how APY differs from NPS.
9 min read